Director Pedro Almodovar has brought a unique vision to his films with one my personal favorites being The Skin I Live In from 2011. Now he is making his first long feature in English with The Room Next Door starring Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, John Turturro and Alessandro Nivola. Could this film bring his voice to the English world, or will it fail to find its final peace?

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The Room Next Door follows Ingrid and Martha who were close friends in their youth when they worked together at the same magazine. Ingrid went on to become an autofiction novelist while Martha became a war reporter. Eventually, they were separated by the circumstances of life. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation.

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I knew nothing of this film before checking it out other than the cast and Almodovar’s involvement which was enough for me to check it out. I am glad I knew nothing about the story as it helped for it to unfold in a more dramatic way without any expectations. This is a slow-paced story that may not be the most exciting film but delivers on the shoulders of the strong performances of Moore and Swinton.

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I’m not sure if it’s the transition to English or just a choice to go a more traditional direction, but I felt like the film didn’t have his usual style to it. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t still visually impressive or good, just knowing his work felt different. Thankfully these strong performances carry the film into a heavy emotional direction that successfully deals with some heavy subject matter.

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It’s a unique look at death and acceptance in a way that isn’t just depressing per usual, but instead about living in its various stages. Their reconnection is filled